"I am starting from scratch. There is an incredible amount of detail to hit. A wide variety of plays and formations to learn.

"The play book makes rugby's lineout codes look very simple in comparison!

"There is a tremendous amount of work ahead of me before I can get anywhere, I am very raw."

Raw, yes, but brimming with such potential that the Jets were far from being alone in wanting to recruit the former college basketball player.

And a lack of experience has never deterred Smith in the past.

Having played Division II basketball at Denver's Metropolitan University, Smith landed an academy contract with Saracens almost immediately after taking up rugby.

Smith has played 45 matches for the Aviva Premiership champions and last autumn he represented the United States at the Rugby World Cup.

It was after the Eagles' tournament had come to an end that Smith met veteran American Football agent Jack Bechta through a mutual friend and took his first steps on the road to the NFL.

Saracens allowed Smith to explore his prospects. In two visits to the United States he tried out for a number of NFL teams and trained with specialist coach Tim Brewster, the man who turned Antonio Gates from a college basketball player into a ProBowl tight end with the San Diego Chargers.

Smith, who stands at 6ft 7in, clocked 4.75seconds for the 40 metres and his natural, unrefined ability led to interest from the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

But Smith opted for the Jets after being impressed by their head coach Rex Ryan. He has signed a three-year contract and will join the training camp in Morristown, New Jersey, on Monday with the aim of securing a place on their 53-man roster for the NFL season.

"He could be an outstanding player in the National Football League," Brewster told the New York Post.

Smith has been recruited as a prospective tight end, an offensive position which marries the handling skills that made him a college basketball player with the physicality of a rugby international.

A tight end has three roles - to catch passes, to block opponents and create running lanes for team-mates and to protect his own quarter-back.

Smith worked on all three elements when he met Brewster in San Diego in February, where he was put through two on-field training sessions a day followed by work in the classroom.

"We just went back to the absolute building blocks of football, going through each specific role of the tight end," Smith said.

"There are definitely transferable skills from sports I have played in the past. There is a certain level of ability but everything needs to be refined.

"Most people are excited to see the potential of having a rugby player coming into their sport. They see rugby as a tough sport with players who don't wear pads or helmets.

"I am a long way from being a finished. I will work as hard as I can to get myself on that roster on September.

"For me the Jets was a fantastic fit football-wise. I really liked the coaching staff. It's a very well-known team and it is fantastic to be able to live in New York."

Smith reflects on his rugby career, with Saracens and the United States, with pride and he will not sever ties with the sport completely.

"The World Cup has absolutely been the biggest event I have been involved in," said Smith, who hails originally from Penrith, Australia.

"I will do anything I can to help the profile of rugby.

"As far as people transferring (from professional rugby to the NFL) I am not sure it has happened before.

"It's been an incredible journey and I feel very fortunate that I've managed to make the most the opportunities that have come up for me.